The One Canned Addition That Gives Apple Pie A Rich, Caramel Flavor

While the phrase, "As easy as apple pie" doesn't really refer to the making of this classic all-American dessert, they sure are easy to eat. But the truth is they're not that tricky to make either. With just a few ingredients — apples, sugar, spices and a pie crust — you can have a delicious dish on the table for everyone to enjoy. There are even a few interesting ways to enhance this comforting classic further without altering its basic structure and generational appeal. One of them is to add a caramel flavor using an inexpensive pantry item: Sweetened condensed milk, cooked slowly until it caramelizes. 

This trick works with any apple pie recipe. Just pour the condensed milk into a non-stick saucepan and cook it over low to medium heat, stirring frequently so it doesn't burn, for about 20 to 30 minutes until it turns a light caramel color and has thickened slightly. It will keep thickening as it cools. You can also decide how thick you want the sauce to be, cooking it longer to reduce it further and give you a thicker, spreadable consistency, or cook it just until it changes color and stays runny to use as a drizzle.

Use this creamy caramel sauce in your apple pie in different ways. Spread it on the base crust before you add the apples as a bottom layer, or drizzle it over the apples before you add the top crust before baking. If you have any left, drizzle it over the warm pie slices as you serve. You could start by using it in this decadent Dutch apple pie recipe for a delicious upgrade.

Now, here's a twist: When you slowly simmer sweetened condensed milk long enough, it turns into that delicious sauce known as dulce de leche, which you can use in your favorite apple pie recipe. Yep, all it takes to make this versatile sweet sauce is a can of sweet condensed milk and a bit of patience. You can then use it to elevate your apple pie, as the base for this apple pie dessert pizza, or to trick your friends into believing that your store-bought apple pie tastes homemade.

And there's a cool trick to make this caramelized sweet milk without having to stir constantly. Just cook it in the can, in a pressure cooker, or in a boiling water bath to prevent it from burning.

Simply remove the label, place a wire rack in the bottom of a pot, and fill with enough water to cover the can. Simmer slowly, ensuring the can is always covered by water. For a runny sauce you can pour, two hours in a regular pot should be enough. If you want it darker and thicker, let it go for up to three. In a pressure cooker it will only take between 30 and 45 minutes, depending on how you want it to look. Remove from the water using tongs, and let the can cool enough to handle before opening and using.